rock_knutne;378588 wrote:Watched the Italy/Mexico game today, don't know why I wasted my time doing so. The Azzurri always start out slow heading in to a major tournament and play their lead up friendlies as if they don't care. They disapoint in that regard today.

Italy usually struggles in group play as well.

rock_knutne;378588 wrote:Watched the Italy/Mexico game today, don't know why I wasted my time doing so. The Azzurri always start out slow heading in to a major tournament and play their lead up friendlies as if they don't care. They disapoint in that regard today.

.....dam, I envy those Italians.



"avvitare il azzuri"

hoops23;378794 wrote:Italy usually struggles in group play as well.

Yes they do, like I said they start slow. That being said, I'll be very dissapointed if they don't dominate their group, it's the easiest draw in the tournament.

English captain Rio Ferdinand hurt his knee in practice, no word on the severity of the injury:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5250277/ce/us/england-captain-rio-ferdinand-injures-knee-training?cc=5901&ver=us

Wow, what a huge loss if he is out for any of their games.

I just saw that Didier Drogba broke his arm during Ivory Coast's match with Japan. Could miss the tourny. HUGE LOSS!!!

HUUUUUUUUUGE loss, Cote D'Ivoire has a slim slim chance to make it out of that group now.

What a shame. Really thought they had a legit chance to make some noise this tourney.

terrible news for Ivory Coast...they were going to be pushed to make it out of group play as it was ...with that tough draw...but I kind of liked them as an upset team.

not without Drogba.

Yep, time to change my picks... Where's the link for the ESPN group again?

http://games.espn.go.com/bpredictor/en-us/group?groupID=30216&entryID=623411

Well, im sticking with the Ivory Coast to beat out Portugal. I still think their teams are pretty even.

Not me, I changed the pick from Cote to Portugal

I have to change my picks too. After looking at the bracket, i tell you what, Spain has a HORRIBLE draw. They should win their group, but what will be their reward? A first round knockout stage match with Brazil or Portugal. Thats a ridiculous first round match-up anyway you look at it. Brazil can easily have one bad game in group play and come out 2nd. A Spain/Brazil match-up is as good as a finals match-up. Anyone can win that match. As for a game vs Portugal, i would be afraid to play against Ronaldo's play making abilities.

As for the Azzurri, I am a little worried about them. They might start slow, but sometimes that will bite them in the ass (i.e. 1996 Eurocup). Unless they pull off a Celtics by looking old an listless during meaningless games, and then getting hot, I do not see them making it past the rd of 16.

Some potentialy devastating news for Italy, Pirlo suffered a calf injury against Mexico and could be out for the tournament:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5251604/ce/us/italy-andrea-pirlo-calf-injury?cc=5901&ver=us

If Pirlo can't make it back by the knock out rounds, Italy will be in deep trouble.

rock_knutne;379080 wrote:Some potentialy devastating news for Italy, Pirlo suffered a calf injury against Mexico and could be out for the tournament:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5251604/ce/us/italy-andrea-pirlo-calf-injury?cc=5901&ver=us

If Pirlo can't make it back by the knock out rounds, Italy will be in deep trouble.

not really, pirlo is good no doubt, but it doesn't hurt them nearly as bad as the drogba injury. Italy can move some things around and not even miss pirlo

Wow, players are dropping like flies.

Love watching Pirlo, that would suck if he's out.

DeyDurkie5;379086 wrote:not really, pirlo is good no doubt, but it doesn't hurt them nearly as bad as the drogba injury. Italy can move some things around and not even miss pirlo

I like your thinking but who would replace him? Italy's flow moves through Pirlo, he would be a huge loss.

SportsAndLady;379068 wrote:Not me, I changed the pick from Cote to Portugal

Certainly not a bad choice. But outside Ronaldo (who has blown a dick for Portugal for about a year now) Cote d'Ivoire has the better players. Toure and Eboue are better defenders than anyone Portugal can put out imo. Portugals defenders have big names, but arent playing all that well and are a little bit older.

I also like Yaya Toure more than anyone for Portugal in the midfield and this isnt close in my eyes. Deco is fantastic, but hasnt played in god knows how long. It would be pretty remarkable if he found top form. Also, dont discount the men from Sevilla, Romaric and Didier Zakora, who are both very underrated.

Up top, Portugal clearly has the edge (although Drogbas teammate Soloman Kalou is no slouch), but they still havent been able to score much, so Ithink if you eliminate the name from those players (Simao, Ronaldo, Nani and Almeida) it isnt a huge scare. Nani just dissapears. Simao isnt a scorer and Almeida is kind of unknown. Portugal will ultimately come down to the shoulders of Ronaldo, and recently, that would have to be considered a dreadful thought.


Now after all my build up they will lose to Brazil and Portugal and only muster a 1-1 draw with N. Korea or something...

rock_knutne;379105 wrote:I like your thinking but who would replace him? Italy's flow moves through Pirlo, he would be a huge loss.

Pirlo is kind of the engine for Italy. It WOULD be a huge lose for them. I think the difference for Italy vs other squads (like US with Jozy and Ivory Coast with Drogba) is those squads arent even capable of replacing those players. Italy will miss a beat, but they have replacements who can to an adequate enough job to get it done, especially with the talent elsewhere to maybe mask a flaw in the armor (Pirlo) if that makes sense.

Its kind of like Ferdinand for England. HUGE loss, but can be managed still. Some countries are just blessed with the talent like that.

I could be wrong, but isn't Pirlo Italy's set piece specialist? I frequently play with Milan on FIFA 10....I've probably netted at least 20 freekicks with that fool.

rock_knutne;379105 wrote:I like your thinking but who would replace him? Italy's flow moves through Pirlo, he would be a huge loss.

I just woke up and posted that, so I should probably rephrase that...the loss for italy is huge because a lot of their possession starts and runs through him and not to mention he is a free kick sniper. What I was saying that you could switch a few things around, putting gattuso or someone like that in the central back and they will not be punished nearly as much as cote

Mighty France is losing to China 1 to 0 in the 86 minute right now on ESPN2.

LOL France.